Rethinking Formative Assessment: Use Learning Progressions to Fuel Student Success

In this research-based edWebinar, author and consultant Dr. Karin Hess will discuss how to effectivly use learning progressions in a district to maximize the instructional value of formative data. In particular, she will address the following topics: How progressions connect daily learning targets with long-term expectations How progressions help you better monitor student progress and… Read More ›

Moving Toward Mastery: Growing, Developing and Sustaining Educators for Competency-Based Education

Building off examples of effective teaching, professional development and practice across the nation, this CompetencyWorks report explores how communities can work together to prompt and sustain complex systems change. To support a shift to student-centered education systems, the teaching profession must be equity-oriented, learning-centered, and focused on life long learning. This report is a must read… Read More ›

Portfolios Boost Assessment Relevancy for Truly Transformative Learning

This opinion article makes a strong case for states to adopt portfolios as part of their assessment programs. The article provides a good overview of the advantages of using student portfolios as assessment. The author outlines how portfolios can focus on learning rather than completion, asses in more individualized ways to decrease racial and socio-economic… Read More ›

Assistive Technology Module

Originally created by the Center on Technology and Disability for college and university personnel training programs, this module can help teachers better understand assistive technologies. It brings together a wealth of resources, including a library of videos and webinar recordings, along with a glossary of important terms. It can also be supplemented with Assistive Technology in… Read More ›

Differentiating Instruction: How to Plan Your Lessons

 In this video instructional expert Larry Ferlazzo and veteran teacher Katie Hull Sypnieski talk through the kinds of questions they ask themselves when planning a lesson for a multi-ability classroom. They answer teachers most common questions, such as “What will students do if they finish early?” and “How can the materials be modified to… Read More ›

3 Lessons from Students about Improving School Culture

This article describes the Youth Leadership Program developed at Vestavia Hills High School in Birmingham, Alabama to improve school climate and culture. The school committed to putting students in the drivers seat as well as ensuring the program was for all students not just a subsection of the traditionally most successful. School staff share the… Read More ›

Being Wrong Has Made Me a Better Teacher

In this blog article from Education Week Teacher  a middle school language arts teacher and curriculum coach discusses how she embraces mistakes. This veteran explores how she has grown in her understanding of her own teaching practices. She describes how she now looks for and relishes in mistakes and turns them into powerful learning experiences, using… Read More ›

7 Ways to Spark Engagement

This practical article looks at student engagement. It discusses the importance of sparking curiosity to engage students in learning. The article includes many tips to spark engagement in the classroom, such as using puzzles and introducing controversy. This article is full of ideas for classroom teachers of any subject, especially high school educators. Source Organization:… Read More ›

Testing for Real-World Performance Online Summit

This free online summit, hosted by Education Week, is an opportunity for educators and other interested stakeholders to take part in a series of peer-to-peer discussions around performance assessments. The conversations will focus on evaluating students through group work, projects, and portfolios. Participants will get a big-picture look at the current state of performance assessment and learn… Read More ›